With anything Savannah Jones did, she always felt the warmth of her small town, as they always showed up and showed out for her growing up, whether it be during hard times of family loss or joyous occasions of graduations and high school homecoming fundraisers.
Communities are made up of friends, families, teachers, leaders, churches, businesses and much more but what truly makes an individual’s community is the connections made throughout a person’s life.
Savannah Jones, the daughter of Trevor and Melissa Jones grew up in Big Ridge, one hill over from the state park where she spent many summer days.
Jones graduated from Union County High School in 2020, amid a pandemic. Jones was highly involved in various extracurriculars throughout her four years at UCHS.
Jones served two terms on both state and regional 4-H councils, where she was able to serve Tennessee 4-H members through planning and organizing regional and state events, where she had the opportunity to travel and meet with agriculture leaders.
Through 4-H, Jones showed cattle, sheep and hogs and tried out things such as meats and livestock judging.
Along with 4-H, she was involved in the Horace Maynard FFA chapter where she served three terms as a chapter officer and one term as a district officer. Through her time in FFA, Jones competed in the Agriscience Fair, Cooperative Development Challenge Team, and a variety of other career development events.
These events have truly allowed Jones to get to where she is today. For instance, due to the Agriscience Fair, she gained a research interest and has been able to do original research on economics and the dairy industry which she is now presenting at the National American Dairy Science Association Conference.
Along with this, competing in the cooperative development challenge showed Jones how businesses work as well as what it takes to build a business. This activity led her to have an interest in the National Agriculture Marketing Association team at UT which she has now competed for two years.
Some of Jones’s most influential teachers while in Union County were Renee Bills, Derek Tharpe, Susan Coffey, Anthony Malone, Aileen Beeler, Linda Baxter, John Fugate, Andrew Trammel, Heather Cooke and Hannah Richardson.
After graduating from UCHS, Jones began her studies at the University of Tennessee where she is majoring in food and agriculture business with a focus in law and policy and dual minors in entrepreneurship and international agriculture and natural resources.
Once Jones finishes her bachelor’s degree, she plans to receive her master’s degree in agriculture economics. To get her closer to these goals, she is currently working in Washington, D.C., as an intern for a Tennessee State Representative.
Jones is currently involved in the Food and Agriculture Business Club and Dairy Club and UT where she serves as an officer. She also is a member of the Block and Bridle Club, Collegiate 4-H and FFA, the National Agriculture Marketing Association competition team, Farm Credit Scholars Program and the East Tennessee Research and Education Internship.
Jones credits many of these successes and opportunities to the people who have influenced her life as well as the activities she was involved in from an earlier age.
“Don’t be afraid to reach out of your comfort zone,” Jones said. “I know that is a very overused piece of advice, but it is the best advice I can give you. Apply to that school far away that you don’t think you’ll get into. Apply to that scholarship you don’t think you’ll get. Apply for that internship or job you are not qualified for. This is how you manage to reach beyond your circumstances.”